CNN ordered to pay £250k in dismissal claim

CNN has been ordered to pay nearly £250,000 to a London-based producer who brought a claim for unfair dismissal.

Elena Cosentino, 34, worked as a producer and reporter at CNN's London bureau for more than six years, but was dismissed after telling bosses she was medically unable to work continuous overnight shifts.

A London employment tribunal ruled last week that CNN must pay her £246,799 in total, including just over £100,000 loss of earnings up until March 2010, £10,000 personal injury, £15,000 injury to feelings, £7,500 aggravated damages, plus expenses and interest.

Ms Cosentino had been seeking £350,000 in damages, while in February CNN offered £75,000.

Ms Cosentino also asked the tribunal to order CNN to pay her costs, which total up to £100,000.

CNN must pay its own costs, which legal sources estimate to be double Ms Cosentino's bill.

The tribunal reserved its decision on costs. Employment tribunals, unlike courts, only award costs in exceptional cases, and, even then, rarely in favour of employees.

Ms Cosentino won her unfair dismissal case in August last year, with the three-man tribunal at the time criticising CNN's "highly insensitive management".

The tribunal described Ms Cosentino's dismissal in April 2004 as a "sham," adding that CNN operated a culture where working night-shifts was mandatory and made "no attempts to mitigate" the often debilitating effects on employees.

Ms Cosentino, who has been working as a freelance documentary producer since her sacking by CNN in 2004, said: "I am delighted by the decision on compensation because I came to realise that the size of the award would be the only measure of responsibility CNN's high management would possibly understand."

A CNN spokeswoman said: "We acknowledge the tribunal findings. They've been given due consideration. We don't discuss our internal management."